Scots pine tree could become Scotland's national tree

CAMPAIGNER Alex Hamilton hopes that Holyrood will agree to the tree becoming a symbol of Scotland.

A PLEA for the Scots pine to be adopted as Scotland's national tree will be considered at Holyrood today.

Campaigner Alex Hamilton has submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament, arguing that having a national tree for Scotland could be a "valuable symbol" of the commitment to the country's natural environment.

He suggested this should be the "iconic" Scots pine.

Mr Hamilton's petition has already won the support of a number of environmental organisations, including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Trees for Life, the Woodland Trust Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Both Mr Hamilton and Alan Watson Featherstone, the founder and executive director of Trees for Life, will make the case to MSPs on Holyrood's Public Petitions Committee.

In his petition, Mr Hamilton argues that the Scots pine is an appropriate symbol for the country as its numbers are rising again, after being greatly reduced, making it a "symbol of a resurgent Scotland".

He adds: "Like the people of Scotland, the Scots pine comes in different shapes and colours."

Mr Hamilton also describes the tree as being a "keystone species in the ecosystem forming the backbone on which many plants, animals, birds and insects depend".

He states: "The Scots pine is known and loved by many Scots and having it as a national symbol will encourage Scottish citizens in assessing, improving and being involved with their environment.

"The United Kingdom - or is it England? - has its Royal oak, it is time for Scotland to have its national tree."

In a letter to MSPs, Mr Watson Featherstone said that as 2013 had been declared the Year of Natural Scotland it was "an entirely fitting and appropriate way to start the year with the establishment of a national tree for our country, and the Scots pine is the ideal and obvious choice for this".

He added that the Scots pine was the "only tree named after Scotland" and for this reason was "already uniquely associated with the country".

Mr Watson Featherstone concluded: "Declaring the Scots pine the country's national tree will, in our view, be well received by people who value Scotland's natural beauty."